A 307-foot-tall Beaux Arts tower designed by Paul Philippe Cret has perched over UT Austin since it was completed in 1937. Now, for the first time in its 85-year history, the Texas tower will undergo a major refurbishment. Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) has been selected for the job.
The renovation was first announced in 2022, as reported by AN, but an architect wasn’t attached to the project then. University of Texas System Board of Regents approved $70 million for the renovation last August as part of a fundraising campaign called Our Tower: The Next 100 Years.
“The most iconic symbol of The University of Texas, the tower represents the long-standing tradition of excellence this great University is known for,” said UT System Board of Regents chairman Kevin P. Eltife in a statement.
“This restoration is one of the board’s top priorities, and we are thrilled the work is getting underway,” Eltife continued. “We want every UT student, faculty and staff member, and alum to have a sense of pride as they walk across the Forty Acres, and especially when they see the Tower restored to its former glory.”
The renovation will entail a comprehensive restoration of the tower’s exterior; the stone, windows, lighting, clockface, and historic gilding will all be improved. Metal and wood surfaces will be repainted to match the original design, and the tower’s east and west entrances will be reconstructed.
An LED-based exterior lighting system will also be applied. Select parts of the roof will be swapped out, and windows will be replaced to improve their appearance, operability, and energy efficiency.
The 29th floor’s observation deck will receive a full upgrade, and clutter will be removed from the top of the tower for aesthetic clarity. A new flag-raising system will be added to the tower’s south facade. The south loggia’s decorative finishes will also be restored.
Exterior work will begin in November.
Construction is slated for completion in summer 2027.